ByKelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes Staff.
Tens of millions of Americans who rely on government food assistance will not receive benefits beginning tomorrow. That’s according to a notice posted on the website for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which noted, “Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01.”
The reason for the notice? The government shutdown. The shutdown, which began on October 1, is just days away from being the longest in history. The previous record was 35 days, set in 2018-19 during President Donald Trump’s first term.
The notice refers to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP or “food stamps.” SNAP is a federal program run by the USDA that helps low-income households afford groceries. Benefits are issued monthly, usually through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card—essentially a debit card that can be used to buy approved items at grocery stores and farmers’ markets.
